GC. PR Professional of the Year - Agency

Winner

Campaign Title

Michael de Kretser

Client

Agency

GO Communications

Michael de Krester, founder and CEO of GO Communications (Malaysia) and chairman of GO Group, has full operational responsibility for the PR Agency, which includes bottom line results, hiring of key executives, pitching for new business, creative campaigns for clients, staff training and retention.
In 2013, he led revenue increase by 56 per cent, PBT by 38 per cent, and fees by 64 per cent. Under his leadership, the agency’s client base grew by over 43 per cent, and recorded a new business pitched success rate over 90 per cent. Key reasons for this success were creativity, brief articulation, track record and staff experience. Moreover, client retention was over 95 per cent last year, while retainer fee for existing clients increased by 25 per cent. Major client wins included Thistle Hotels, Crewstone International, Defence Services Asia, HungryGoWhere.com, London Speaker Bureau, Kuala Lumpur Sports Medical Centre and Maxman.tv. De Krester has authored books and is a committee member of the Institute of Public Relations Malaysia (IPRM) accreditation committee, member of the National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia Publicity & Promotions Committee, which aims to publicise kidney awareness and donations.